Minato City, Tokyo, Japan｜Kinari

In Ayoma, there are many excellent kaiseki restaurants, and we have visited many as we used to live in Shibuya some years back. This kaiseki restaurant, however, stands out because of its creativity. It’s tucked in on a side street, so it’s not entirely easy to find. The interior is spartan but very tasteful. As expected, you need to remove your shoes when entering the dining room area - which features only private rooms except for a handful by the sushi counter. The staff is very courteous and friendly. As we spoke Japanese with the staff we are unsure of their English skills. The courses are presented on individual plates, the beer glasses are leaf thin, as are some of the sake decanters, and each course is beautifully presented - and many times in an original fashion compared to similar dishes served at other restaurants. For some of the dishes the porcelain even is different for each dining guest. The quality of the food is absolutely top notch, and each course is carefully explained by the staff which makes the experience even better. We tried a seven-course set menu which was nothing but spectacular. We were particularly impressed with the sashimi courses, and the wagyu roast beef. Dry ice sashimi with a subtle mist coming out from under the sashimi was memorable, as was the scallops rice dish at the end. The menu features draft beer and some craft beer options, wine, and of course sake. The sake selection is pretty extensive, and we rate it better than average. Non-alcoholic alternatives are of course also available. The prices are above average but it is absolutely worth a visit. Location: 5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Staff: 5/5 Price/quality: 4/5 (quite expensive but very high quality)

Great place to have Japanese courses where you want some privacy and quietness to catch up with your friends. The meals were innovative and the service was excellent.

A great pleasant lunch. Warm staff and great good. Very elegant Japanese deco. The chef is so friendly to customer but also serious about the food at the same time. The seasonal ingredients are fresh and impressive. I will recommend you pay a visit.